To the Editor: Lisa Madigan came through for H.O.M.E.S.

Lisa Madigan, the Illinois attorney general, sent me, on April 20, one of her monthly updates… so I sent her one of mine because I have been fighting for H.O.M.E.S. for over three years.

“PLEASE, enforce the law and publicly penalize Stoneridge Dairy for the 10-mile fish kill on the Sangamon River in McLean Co. and A. J. Bos of Traditions Dairy for the purple discharge that entered the Apple River in Jo Daviess Co. The public needs to know that they can’t just get away with such catastrophic environmental damage. The young and upcoming dairymen need to understand that the scale of industrial farming is costly and not profitable, especially when the regulations are enforced. Our future depends on clean waterways.”

In less than 24 hours, this happened:

“Illinois attorney general issues complaint against Traditions South Dairy…”

There has been a mind-boggling amount of time, effort and money to achieve what is happening today. H.O.M.E.S. created a process that actually allowed government officials to do their job. It has been a nightmare that I don’t wish on anyone, but when you are fighting the good fight, it makes it OK. H.O.M.E.S. didn’t settle or wait to fight. The fight became a priority, or there wouldn’t have been the foundation set for three-plus years down the road to where we are now. Lisa Madigan is my hero.